December 05, 2017 (Warwick, RI) – Along the shores of Greenwich Cove and Greenwich Bay in Warwick, R.I., the first of two days of racing took place at the NBX Gran Prix of Cross. It is also the final weekend of racing of the Vittoria Northeast Cyclocross Series presented by Clif Bar and Cycle-Smart, seeing two elite riders finally taking turns in the winner’s circles for Elite Women and Elite Men on Saturday.
West would lead the race from the start with the duo of Arley Kemmerer (Fearless Femme Racing) and Rebecca Fahringer (Stan’s NoTubes p/b Maxxis /gofahr). She would finish eight seconds ahead of Kemmerer, who settled for second.
“I had a good start off the bat,” noted West, who was third in this contest last year. “I got the holeshot and then kind of drilled it for a little bit to see where people were behind me. Then Becca (Fahringer) and Arley (Kemmerer) were fighting with me for the first couple laps. I decided to try and go myself and get my own lines. I don’t think I was riding as smooth as they were. So when I was out front and had some room to move around it was a lot better for me. I went into a corner and took an inside line on Becca one lap and she went down, or something happened. So I got a bit of a gap there and I just went.”
“Rebecca went down in a sandy turn, and (I) almost ran over her, but got around her and stayed upright. So that is how the separation happened with the three of us. That was before the beach run. Ruby got a head start on us. I didn’t feel like I could close it down. I felt like I was conservative. I was gaining in the corners, but was losing on the long, flat stretches,” Kemmerer said about the way the race worked out for the podium finish. “I still have the remnants of this really persistent sickness (sinus infection), which Monday will be three weeks. It’s just hanging on.”
It would be Cassie Maximenko (Van Dessel/Atom Composite Wheels) of Watertown, Conn. who would reel in Fahringer and overtake her in the final turns of the race for third place, four seconds behind Kemmerer. Also fighting a cold like Kemmerer, Maximenko took a conservative approach to the day.
“We were kind of bouncing off one another in the corners on that last lap. I was trying to find out where I was going to make my move. There is this long straightaway before the twists, before the finish straight, so I was like, alright, this is my chance. Becca is such a powerful rider that I didn’t know if I would be able to make it. So I just shifted a couple gears, put my head down, and sprinted by her,” said the New England rider, who is ranked in the Top 10 for Elite Women in ProCX standings.
“It was about three (laps) to go,Curtis laid out a pretty serious attack. I was kind of yo-yoing off the front at first, then we got into a good rhythm,” explained Powers. “With three to go I tried to ride the sand section. Curtis could smell blood in the water, so he made a huge attack, laid it down. I suffered a little bit, but I kept the gap consistent, I came back to them. And then I immediately launched an attack. I think over the last two laps after that I was able to keep the pressure on. And then in the back section here in the sand, I heard Curtis just going for me just as hard as he could. And I knew if I just launched one more time that was going to be it. I did and I was able to go away with it.”
White, the Elite Men’s Vittoria Series leader, would eventually succumb to the pressure of Powers’ attacks on the group. He secured second place, finishing eight seconds behind Powers.
“We were all really taking our turns and the race just seemed like it was getting faster and faster,” said White, who was just 19 points ahead of Powers in the ProCX standings last week, sitting in fourth position overall for Elite Men. “Technically, Powers was riding really well. He was riding the sand, he got a gap a couple of times over there. It was just one move too many for me to follow. I think with maybe one and a half (laps) to go, he got a gap in the sand. I closed through some of the trees, but then he was able to open it up again and I just was never able to bring it back.”
“Once I was up in the front, I took the lead a few times just to keep things steady. You know, not get too excited, not have to chase back on all the time. So I just wanted to try my hand at the front, when Jeremy and Curtis kind of surged be able to answer it and stay cool as much as possible,” added Thompson. “My saddle actually fell two or three inches in the last two laps. So I had to ride that and it felt like a little kid’s bike. But Jeremy and Curtis were pushing it really hard. With those accelerations out of the corners, I just didn’t have that, it wore on me. I knew if I tried to hold it long enough I might be able to make it to the finish, but that was not the case.”
ProCX races continue Dec. 4 at NBX Gran Prix of Cross in Warwick, R.I. and at Ruts N’ Guts in Broken Arrow, Okla. and NBX Gran Prix of Cross in Warwick, R.I. The final C2 races on Sunday at NBX Gran Prix of Cross will be the final installments of the Vittoria Northeast Cyclocross Series presented by presented by Clif Bar and Cycle-Smart.
Day 2
The final race of the Vittoria Northeast Cyclocross Series presented by Clif Bar and Cycle-Smart concluded Sunday at NBX Gran Prix of Cross at Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick, R.I. Canadian U23 National Champion Ruby West (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) took her second win of the weekend in the Elite Women’s race. She also grabbed both overall Vittoria Series jerseys for Elite Women and U23 Women. Justin Lindine (Apex/NBX/Hyperthreads) would take the victory, to upend Curtis White (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com), who was the race favorite. White finished on the podium in third to secure the overall Elite Men’s title of the Vittoria Series. Both races also provided points on the penultimate weekend of racing for the USA Cycling Professional Cyclocross Calendar (ProCX).
“It was a fast pace from the start,” noted 18-year-old West. “Becca and I got a gap on the rest of the field. I kind of tried to lead for a lot and then Becca jumped me. She was riding really, really strong, so in the power sections I’d lose her wheel a bit. She gapped me a bit coming into the bell lap. And then she had a bit of (trouble) going through the pits, so I capitalized on that, hit it pretty hard. I just tried to maintain a bit of a gap to the finish.”
Fahringer raced to improve on her fourth-place finish on Saturday and focused on the technical aspects of the course. “Yesterday (I) felt flat. Today I was out for redemption and riding smooth,” said Fahringer. “I was taking the turns a bit too quick yesterday, tripped on the barriers and lost my front wheel a couple of times. (Today) I started out with a decent position and was following Ruby around for a while. Eventually we distanced ourselves and I said ‘now’s the moment!’ So I attacked and got a little gap on her. And then it was her putting down wonderful paces and lines through the turns, I decided it was time to blow it again. I fell down, but luckily it was right in front of the pit. So I pitted and Ruby passed.”
The competition for the final podium step would come down to the final turns of the course where Cassie Maximenko (Van Dessel/Atom Composite Wheels) would outmaneuver Arley Kemmerer (Fearless Femme Racing). Not wanting to face Kemmerer in a sprint to the line, Maximenko would attack the final stretch prior to the pavement, similar to her late-race move on Saturday when she finished two seconds ahead of Fahringer for third. Maximenko would finish third for a second day, this time three seconds behind Fahringer. Kemmerer would finish fourth on Sunday.
“I didn’t get as good of a start today,” said Maximenko. “I just felt a little off. I think my cold ramped up a little bit after yesterday’s effort. So today, my lungs weren’t as clear. I had to work a little bit harder to get back up to the lead group today. Then I was just in chase mode. I was yo-yoing off that lead group, and then I had to make a couple of passes. Then I got ahead of Arley and then we were battling on that last lap. I just had to go out and defend third as best I could through those last couple of turns. Arley’s a great sprinter, so I knew that it was going to take my best sprint effort to stick it. I was really happy to come away with third again today.”
For the Elite Men, Curtis White would waste no time in taking control, and put 15 seconds on the field in the first half lap of racing. But it was Lindine, who with an enormous effort, pulled White back and would surpass the 23-year-old Cannondale rider with a late-race attack.
“In typical Curtis fashion, he smashed it really early and got a big gap on everybody,” said Lindine, who won his first ProCX race of the year. “I have learned enough about myself and his fitness that I can’t match that kind of acceleration. So I played a bit of the waiting game, and then Eric Thompson and I were able to reel him back in. I managed to eek out a gap with two laps to go, and kind of put all my cards on the table and went for it. I was a little surprised that it worked out, actually. It was win or lose.”
Despite a weekend of mechanicals with a slipping seat post on Saturday and a flat on Sunday, Eric Thompson (M Speed Wax) overcame the circumstances to finish second, 41 seconds behind Lindine.
“Today was a non-stop fight, really,” said Thompson. “It didn’t go as smooth as yesterday, but I had the pit support there to help me so that was good. I flatted on my front tire about halfway through the race. It was a hot pace. The first couple of guys were really setting the pace. Curtis (White) and (Justine) Lindine were strong today. So I just did my best to hang with them. They were smart. When I pitted they punched it, and they had me just off the back for most of the race. So I finally caught them in the last bit. It seemed like Curtis was fading a little bit, so I considered myself lucky to close the gap on them. I was happy to have second.”
White would start strong, but struggled later in the race. He would finish 35 seconds behind Thompson in third on Sunday. Thanks to his consistently strong season, would come away with 315 total points and the Elite Men’s Vittoria Series jersey.
“I knew I wanted to take the lead early,” said White. “The section in the sand was pretty technical, it seemed like anyone in second place had to run that section and it was a little bit slower. I wanted the lead through there, I got a bit of a gap, held it for a few laps. Lindine was riding really strong today. So was Eric Thompson. They came back to me and there was group racing for a bit. The last three laps I really came undone, to be honest. I am not sure what happened. There wasn’t anything wrong with the training, today was just something I have to analyze still.”
The 2017 ProCX season will conclude Dec. 9-10 with races in North Carolina and Texas. The Hunter Subaru North Carolina Grand Prix (NCGP) will return to Jackson Park in Hendersonville, N.C. for two days of C2 cyclocross races. Hunter Subaru NCGP is part of the North Carolina Cyclo-Cross Series, founded in 1997, that consists of 15 races across the state. OrthoCarolina is the 2017-18 series sponsor, with support from DeFeet and Carmichael Training Systems.
It will be the fourth annual Resolution Cross Cup in Garland, Texas. The two C2 races next weekend will be hosted by the Texas Cross Syndicate at Winters Park. The Resolution Cross Cup is the only UCI cyclocross race in Texas this year.
Results
Day 1
Women
1. Ruby West (Can) Cannondale Cyclocrossworld.com 39:26
2. Arley Kemmerer (USA) Fearless Femme Racing 00:08
3. Cassandra Maximenko (USA) VanDessel/Atom Composite Wheels 00:12
4. Rebecca Fahringer (USA) Stan’s NoTubes p/b Maxxis 00:14
5. Jennifer Malik (USA) American Classic Pro CX Team 00:31
6. Danielle Arman (USA) Tenspeed Hero 00:53
7. Julie Wright (USA) Team Averica 01:18
8. Natasha Elliott (Can) Garneau – Easton p/b Transition 01:24
9. Stacey Barbossa (USA) MidAtlantic Colavita Women’s Team 01:30
10. Rachel Rubino (USA) Fearless Femme Racing 01:47
11. Katherine Northcott (USA) West Hill Shop 01:52
12. Anne Usher (USA) Fast Fun Nice 01:58
13. Taylor Kuyk-White (USA) Philadelphia Bike Expo 02:20
14. Natalie Tapias (USA) JAM / NCC 02:24
15. Sophie Russenberger (USA) DaH-NGER/ Bard College 02:25
16. Erin Faccone (USA) Team Averica 02:37
17. Jauron Vetter (USA) Mad Alchemy | Zanconato 02:40
18. Leslie Lupien (USA) Team Averica 03:17
19. Katie Carlson (USA) Ladies First p/b Milton Caterpi 03:22
20. Brittlee Bowman (USA) House Ind/Nokia Health/Simplehuman 03:33
21. Meghan Owens (USA) UVM Cycling 03:34
22. Taryn Mudge (USA) Fearless Femme Racing 03:43
23. Alixanna Norris (USA) Cowbell Racing p/b World Bicycle 03:47
24. Kayla Brannen (USA) Cowbell Racing p/b World Bicycle 03:55
25. Christin Reuter (USA) Mad Alchemy | Zanconato 04:00
26. Natalie Forsythe (USA) Riverside Racing 04:28
27. Philicia Marion (USA) American Classic Pro Cyclocross 04:34
28. Allison Mrugal (USA) Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 04:47
29. Heather Richard (USA) Ladies First p/b Milton 04:48
30. Shane Ferro (USA) Two Seconds Ahead Racing 05:23
31. Katina Walker (USA) Park Ave. Bike p/b Borah 05:50
32. Jenny Wojewoda (USA) pedalpowertraining.com 06:12
33. Elizabeth Huuki (USA) Army West Point Cycling 06:32
34. Kelli Montgomery (USA) Stage 1 06:40
35. Paige Williams (USA) Fuji Cross Crew 06:55
36. Mary Maroon (USA) Voler/CLIF/HRS/RockLobster
37. Sara Melikian (USA) pedalpowertraining.com
DNF Regina Legge (USA) Trek Cyclocross Collective
Men
1. Jeremy Powers (USA) Aspire Racing 1:03:40
2. Curtis White (USA) Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld 00:08
3. Eric Thompson (USA) M SPEED WAX 00:29
4. Justin Lindine (USA) Apex / NBX / Hyperthreads 01:23
5. Merwin Davis (USA) Cycle-Smart Inc. 02:01
6. Derrick St John (Can) Vanvv Dessel p/b Hyperthreads 02:04
7. Dan Chabanov (USA) House Ind/Nokia Health/Simplehuman 02:22
8. Michael Owens (USA) Hands-On Cycling p/b Guerciotti 02:23
9. Trevor O’Donnell (Can) Lakeside Storage Cyclocross 02:33
10. Andy Scott (USA) Riverside Racing 02:37
11. Max Judelson (USA) Voler/Clif/HRS/Rock Lobster 02:40
12. Adam Myerson (USA) Cycle-Smart 03:26
13. Patrick Collins (USA) Minuteman Road Club 03:27
14. Kevin Bouchard-Hall (USA) Wrenegade Sports/Team Placid 03:48
15. Andrew Borden (USA) X-Men 03:50
16. Michael Landry (USA) Voler/Clif/HRS/Rock Lobster 03:53
17. Samuel O’Keefe (USA) House Ind/Nokia Health/Simplehuman 04:35
18. Dylan McNicholas (USA) Polartec 04:59
19. Bryan Horsley (USA) Sea Sports Cyclery & Outdoor 05:00
20. Doug Thorp (USA) Colonial Bicycle Company 05:02
21. Evan Murphy (USA) Ludwig & Larsen Racing 05:03
22. Christopher Rabadi (USA) Unattached 05:04
23. Zachary Curtis (USA) Bridgewater State University 05:15
24. Nate Morse (USA) Minuteman Road Club 05:22
25. Matt Mollo (USA) Squadra Flying Tigers | Mad Alc 05:30
26. Brendan McCormack (USA) Apex/NBX/Hyperthreads 05:34
27. Gennaro Ameno (USA) GREEN LINE VELO driven by Zipcar 05:45
28. Sean Curran (USA) IMSHI cycles 06:00
29. Ben Powers (USA) Riverside Racing 06:08
30. James Norris (USA) Cowbell Racing p/b World Bicyclw 06:44
31. Nick Lando (USA) UVM Cycling 06:49
32. Tim Willis (USA) JAM / NCC 06:56
33. Travis Wold (USA) WPI 07:12
34. John Funke (USA) Team Mike’s Bikes p/b Equator Coffee 07:18
35. Andrew Nicholas (USA) RPI 09:03
36. Clyde Sebastian Logue (USA) Colonial Bicycle Co 09:31
37. Colin Reuter (USA) crossresults.com
38. Dan Fitzgibbons (USA) GREEN LINE VELO driven by Zipcar
39. Sam Hedlund (USA) UVM Cycling
40. Kyle Murphy (USA) Ludwig & Larsen Racing
41. Mark Hewitt (USA) JAM / NCC
42. Gregory Colby (USA) B2C2/JRA Cycles
43. Chris Goguen (USA) RACE CF | racecf.org
DNF Chris Niesen (USA) JAM / NCC
DNF Christian Ricci (Can) Lakeside Storage Cyclocross
DNF Gerald Adasavage (USA) Ludwig & Larsen Racing
DNF Matt Owens (USA) UVM Cycling
DNF Kale Wenczel (USA) JAM / NCC
Day 2
Women
1. Ruby West (Can) Cannondale Cyclocrossworld.com 42:47
2. Rebecca Fahringer (USA) Stan’s NoTubes p/b Maxxis 00:08
3. Cassandra Maximenko (USA) VanDessel/Atom Composite Wheels 00:11
4. Arley Kemmerer (USA) Fearless Femme Racing 00:20
5. Kathryn Cumming (USA) Jalapeno Cycling 01:01
6. Danielle Arman (USA) Tenspeed Hero 01:21
7. Natasha Elliott (Can) Garneau – Easton p/b Transition 01:32
8. Jennifer Malik (USA) American Classic Pro CX Team 01:33
9. Anne Usher (USA) Fast Fun Nice 01:47
10. Stacey Barbossa (USA) MidAtlantic Colavita Women’s Team 01:49
11. Katherine Northcott (USA) West Hill Shop 01:53
12. Rachel Rubino (USA) Fearless Femme Racing 02:46
13. Sophie Russenberger (USA) DaH-NGER/ Bard College 03:04
14. Brittlee Bowman (USA) House Ind/Nokia Health/Simplehuman 03:08
15. Natalie Tapias (USA) JAM / NCC 03:16
16. Katie Carlson (USA) Ladies First p/b Milton Caterpi 03:31
17. Taylor Kuyk-White (USA) Philadelphia Bike Expo 03:42
18. Allison Mrugal (USA) Rensselaer Polytechnic Institut 03:45
19. Erin Faccone (USA) Team Averica 03:53
20. Alixanna Norris (USA) Cowbell Racing p/b World Bicycle 04:02
21. Meghan Owens (USA) UVM Cycling 04:05
22. Leslie Lupien (USA) Team Averica 04:15
23. Christin Reuter (USA) Mad Alchemy | Zanconato 04:20
24. Taryn Mudge (USA) Fearless Femme Racing 04:25
25. Kayla Brannen (USA) Cowbell Racing p/b World Bicycle 04:43
26. Philicia Marion (USA) American Classic Pro Cyclocross 04:45
27. Lindsey Crifasi (USA) Team Sticky Fingers 04:59
28. Heather Richard (USA) Ladies First p/b Milton 05:17
29. Natalie Forsythe (USA) Riverside Racing 05:45
30. Paige Williams (USA) Fuji Cross Crew 06:36
31. Elizabeth Huuki (USA) Army West Point Cycling
32. Jenny Wojewoda (USA) pedalpowertraining.com
33. Sara Melikian (USA) pedalpowertraining.com
DNF Julie Wright (USA) Team Averica
DNF Kelli Montgomery (USA) Stage 1
DNS Shane Ferro (USA) Two Seconds Ahead Racing
Men
1. Justin Lindine (USA) Apex / NBX / Hyperthreads 1:06:29
2. Eric Thompson (USA) M SPEED WAX 00:41
3. Curtis White (USA) Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld 01:16
4. Max Judelson (USA) Voler/Clif/HRS/Rock Lobster 01:23
5. Merwin Davis (USA) Cycle-Smart Inc. 01:29
6. Trevor O’Donnell (Can) Lakeside Storage Cyclocross 01:30
7. Brendan McCormack (USA) Apex/NBX/Hyperthreads 01:45
8. Michael Owens (USA) Hands-On Cycling p/b Guerciotti 01:49
9. Derrick St John (Can) Vanvv Dessel p/b Hyperthreads 01:54
10. Patrick Collins (USA) Minuteman Road Club 02:57
11. Samuel O’Keefe (USA) House Ind/Nokia Health/Simplehuman 03:22
12. Dan Chabanov (USA) House Ind/Nokia Health/Simplehuman 03:33
13. Nick Lando (USA) UVM Cycling 03:42
14. Adam Myerson (USA) Cycle-Smart 03:48
15. Andrew Borden (USA) X-Men
16. Michael Landry (USA) Voler/Clif/HRS/Rock Lobster 04:00
17. Ben Powers (USA) Riverside Racing 04:06
18. Nate Morse (USA) Minuteman Road Club 04:29
19. Kale Wenczel (USA) JAM / NCC 04:40
20. Kevin Bouchard-Hall (USA) Wrenegade Sports/Team Placid 04:43
21. Matt Mollo (USA) Squadra Flying Tigers | Mad Alc 04:52
22. Doug Thorp (USA) Colonial Bicycle Company 04:57
23. Christopher Rabadi (USA) Unattached 04:58
24. Bryan Horsley (USA) Sea Sports Cyclery & Outdoor 05:29
25. Gennaro Ameno (USA) GREEN LINE VELO driven by Zipcar 05:32
26. Zachary Curtis (USA) Bridgewater State University 06:18
27. Christian Ricci (Can) Lakeside Storage Cyclocross 06:19
28. Sean Curran (USA) IMSHI cycles 06:52
29. Kyle Murphy (USA) Ludwig & Larsen Racing 07:16
30. Travis Wold (USA) WPI 08:07
31. Matt Owens (USA) UVM Cycling
32. Mark Hewitt (USA) JAM / NCC
33. James Norris (USA) Cowbell Racing p/b World Bicycle
34. Scott Yarosh (USA)
35. Dylan McNicholas (USA) Polartec
36. Colin Reuter (USA) crossresults.com
37. Tim Willis (USA) JAM / NCC
38. Clyde Sebastian Logue (USA) Colonial Bicycle Co
39. Dan Fitzgibbons (USA) GREEN LINE VELO driven by Zipcar
40. Chris Niesen (USA) JAM / NCC
41. John Funke (USA) Team Mike’s Bikes p/b Equator Coffee
42. Andrew Nicholas (USA) RPI
43. Sam Hedlund (USA) UVM Cycling
44. John Eckert (USA) CycleLoft
45. Chris Goguen (USA) RACE CF | racecf.org
DNF Jeremy Powers (USA) Aspire Racing
DNF Andy Scott (USA) Riverside Racing
DNF Gerald Adasavage (USA) Ludwig & Larsen Racing
DNF Evan Murphy (USA) Ludwig & Larsen Racing